International Conference on Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East

The Chaldean Archbishops of Basra and the south, Habib Jajou and of Kirkuk, Yousif Toma participated in the International Conference on Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East held in Madrid, Spain on Wednesday, 24 May. They joint on behalf of His Beatitude Mar Luis R. Sako. Tens of political leaders from 59 countries plus 16 UN organizations have come to adopt an action in support of the Iraqi and Syria Christians, Yazidi and other minorities. On Tuesday, 23 May, they have participated with the Delegation Heads the audience with His Majesty the King. The Conference on 24th was organized by the Spanish and Jordanian foreign ministries. It was the second version of the Paris conference for the same goal in 2015. First, Archbishop Jajou thanked the Western Church groups, UN organizations and all NGOs for their supportive programmes and projects ‘But people needs more humanitarian, legal and political undertakings’ he added. He highlighted many vital points: the bad situation for the displaced people in Nineveh Plain; the dangerous of the new DAEH because the extremist mentality of many of political and religious leaders ‘we have to monitor of incitement and discrimination to move forward with social resilience and protection of the national fabric of different religious and culture’; He criticized the poor role of the international community to counter –argue the irrational propaganda of the extremists. He called to establish an international law to criminalise who finance or encourage terrorism. He emphasized refusing terms like ‘minority or ethnic’ which isolate the communities with lesser rights. He suggested the title ‘multicultural society’ instead of ‘society with culture diversity’. Also he confirmed the need to re-draft the Iraqi constitution especially Article 2 and the Personal Status Low, Article 26. Finally, Archbishop Jajou called for educating the new generation, this through reforming the education curriculums in schools; to work for people’s equality and protect the dignity of the human person: the woman and children rights.